Bullfighting aficionados are furious after the popular video sharing portal YouTube banned bloody images of bulls being killed in the ring labeling it "animal abuse".

The online giant closed down channels devoted to Spain's "national fiesta" provoking immediate outrage from fans of the spectacle who declared it amounted to "censorship" and "a lack of respect for a much loved tradition".

YouTube confirmed it had removed content showing bulls being dispatched with the matador's sword because such videos contravened one of its guidelines which states: "Don't post videos showing bad stuff like animal abuse, drug abuse, or bomb making".

A spokesman for the company said it "reserved the right to remove any video which does not comply with these terms and conditions".

It said it would still allow uploads of videos of other moments of the corrida such as when the matador uses his cape to attract the bull in a series of passes but that "bloody scenes with the picadors and sword" would be removed.

An online petition was started on Thursday calling for YouTube to reinstate channels removed because of their bullfighting content. It collected more than 2,000 signatures within the first 24 hours.

"Bullfighting is art and culture, it is a magical rite of life, a just and honourable way of life where man and bull combine to create unique and unrepeatable moments," wrote one signatory on the petition posted on Change.org.

"Bullfighting is totally legal in Spain, we can't allow such arbitrary censorship by YouTube," wrote another.

Last month Spain's parliament agreed to debate a motion to declare bullfighting a national cultural treasure, a step towards giving it greater legal and financial protection as a national asset.

Such a move could see the overturning of a ban on bullfighting introduced in January 2012 across the Spain's northeastern region of Catalonia.

Animal rights activists campaigning for a total ban on the "cruel spectacle" of bullfighting welcomed the YouTube decision.

"Little by little we are going to rid this country of the shame of these events," wrote one on a message board devoted to the subject.